Tennis: New season opener serves up good form

Clock tournaments at Albany’s three tennis clubs proved to be a hit on Saturday afternoon after the planned open days to kick off the summer season were washed out a week earlier.

Picture by Laurie Benson: Emu Point’s Greg Cook

With warm sunshine bathing the courts, many players turned out to stretch their muscles and try and find some good early-season form.

At each club, players were paired in rounds and played sets to a time limit, recording their score.

Scores were tallied and the players who won the most games were awarded prizes at the end of the afternoon’s play.

At Emu Point Tennis Club, Richard Piggott was the men’s winner, with Nathan Watson runner-up, while Kirsty Pearce was the best of the women and Michelle Cook the runner-up.

Keith Choules was the men’s winner at Lawley Park Tennis Club and Michael Offerman the runner-up.

In the ladies’, Adelle Offerman won the day, and Vicki Loan was runner-up.

Merrifield Park Tennis Club’s winners were Les Bairstow in the men’s, with Ken Pears runner-up.

For the women, Michelle van de Brugge was the winner and runner-up was Mavis Bairstow.